Eye Problems, Noninjury

Topic Overview

Many people have minor eye problems, such as eyestrain, irritated
eyes, or itchy, scaly eyelids (blepharitis). These problems may be
ongoing (chronic) but usually aren't serious. Home treatment can relieve the
symptoms of many minor eye problems.

It is common for the eyes to be irritated or have a
scratchy feeling. Pain is not a common eye problem unless there has been an
injury. It is not unusual for the eyes to be slightly sensitive to light.
But sudden, painful sensitivity to light is a serious problem that may
mean glaucoma or inflammation of the muscles that control the
pupil (iritis) and
should be evaluated by your doctor.

Sudden problems such as new
vision changes, pain in the eye, or increased drainage are often more serious
and need to be evaluated by a doctor. Eye symptoms that are new or that occur
suddenly may be evaluated by an
emergency medicine specialist.

Ongoing (chronic) eye
problems that may be worsening are usually evaluated by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist). A gradual change in your vision or chronic eye problems
may include:

Inability to see well at night (night blindness). A decrease in
night vision may be caused by nearsightedness,
cataracts,
macular degeneration, or conditions that affect the
retina.

People often tolerate minor eye irritation and problems for a long
time, until the irritation or problems become bothersome enough to seek care.
People who have skin problems and allergies often have ongoing minor
problems with the skin of their eyelids and allergic irritation of the
eyes.

As you reach your 40s and 50s, it is common to have some vision
changes and possibly to need glasses. Some of the changes may also cause other
symptoms, like headaches and nausea, that affect your ability to
function.

Some children may have
special risks for eye problems. Vision screening is recommended for infants who
were either born at or before 30 weeks, whose birth weight was below
3.3 lb (1500 g), or who have
serious medical conditions. Most vision problems are noticed first by the
parents. See
tips for spotting eye problems in your child. The
first screening is recommended about 4 to 7 weeks after birth.footnote 1

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause eye
problems or changes in vision. A few examples are:

Antihistamines.

Some antidepressants
(tricyclic antidepressants).

Erection
medicines.

Medicines for bladder control problems
(anticholinergics).

Medicines that affect blood clotting, such as
aspirin, warfarin (such as Coumadin), heparin, and clopidogrel
(Plavix).

Any kind of medicine that you put in your eye.

Symptoms of serious illness may
include:

A severe headache.

A stiff
neck.

Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less
alert.

Extreme fatigue (to the point where it's hard for you to
function).

Shaking chills.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

Severe pain (8 to 10): The
pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries
constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or
grimace.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is
very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds
when you try to comfort him or her.

Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds
when you try to comfort him or her.

Pain in adults and older children

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain
is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and
can't do anything else except focus on the pain.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your
normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days.
Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's
there.

Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain,
but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind
of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older
adults tend to get sicker quicker.

Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart
disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care
sooner.

Medicines you take. Certain
medicines, herbal remedies, and supplements can cause symptoms or make them
worse.

Recent health events, such as surgery
or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them
more serious.

Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug
use, sexual history, and travel.

Symptoms of serious illness in a baby
may include the following:

The baby is limp and floppy like a rag doll.

The baby doesn't respond at all to being held, touched, or talked
to.

The baby is hard to wake up.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and
illness. Some examples in adults are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease,
and HIV/AIDS.

Long-term alcohol and drug
problems.

Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety
of conditions.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for
cancer.

Other medicines used to treat autoimmune
disease.

Medicines taken after organ transplant.

Not
having a spleen.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and
arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have
one, seek care in the next hour.

You do not need to call an
ambulance unless:

You cannot travel safely either by driving
yourself or by having someone else drive you.

You are in an area
where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be
able to take care of this problem at home.

Try home treatment to relieve the
symptoms.

Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any
concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect).
You may need care sooner.

If you wear contacts, be sure to remove your
contacts when your eye problem starts.

Prevention

Take good care of your eyes to prevent
eye problems.

Injuries from
ultraviolet (UV) light can be prevented by wearing
sunglasses that block UV rays and by wearing broad-brimmed hats. Be aware that
the eye can be injured from sun glare during boating, sunbathing, or skiing. Use
eye protection while you are under tanning lamps or using tanning booths.

Wear goggles or
protective glasses when you are handling chemicals, operating power tools,
hammering nails, or playing sports that involve a risk of a blow to the eye,
such as racquetball or hockey.

Wear goggles or protective glasses
at all times if you have only one functional eye.

Be a good example
to your children by wearing goggles or protective glasses when needed at work
or play.

Keep your
blood pressure under control. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels
that supply blood to the eye.

People who have diabetes are at risk for a vision problem
called
diabetic retinopathy, which is a complication of
having high blood sugar over a long time. People who have diabetes need regular
eye exams so that the early stages of diabetic retinopathy can be detected and
in some cases treated. They also need to keep their blood sugar levels as close
to normal as possible to prevent blood vessel damage from long-term high blood
sugar.

It is important to protect your children's vision. Regular
eye exams identify problems early, and corrective measures can be taken.
Watching a lot of television, playing video games, or frequent computer use can
decrease your child's natural blink reflex, which can cause dry, red, and
irritated eyes. Do not let your child use laser pointers or laser toys. These can cause permanent eye damage if the laser is pointed at the eye.

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